Coleus plant named ‘Kakegawa CE9’

ABSTRACT

‘Kakegawa CE9’ is a new Coleus cultivar particularly distinguished by having a unique leaf color pattern and creeping growth habit.

Genus and species: Solenostemon scutellarioides.

Variety denomination: ‘Kakegawa CE9’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Coleus, botanically known as Solenostemon scutellarioides and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Kakegawa CE9’. It is characterized by having a unique leaf pattern and creeping growth habit. The new cultivar originated as a selection from a population resulting from self-pollination of a proprietary Coleus breeding line, 9CL. 9CL was self pollinated to produce S2 seed. S₂ seed was sown in a greenhouse in Cartago, Costa Rica. Two single-plant selections were made from the S₂ generation and self-pollinated to create two separate S₃ seed lots.

In 2000, seed from each S₃ lot was sown in the greenhouse. Two single-plant selections were made and self-pollinated to produce two separate S₄ seed lots. In 2001, seed from each S₄ lot was sown. One single-plant selection was made based on its creeping habit and asexually propagated through rooted plant cuttings in both Cartago, Costa Rica and Salinas, Calif. ‘Kakegawa CE9’ has been shown to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Coleus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's form and foliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. shows overall plant habit.

FIG. 2. shows a close-up view of the leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Kakegawa CE9’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. The detailed description was taken from plants grown under greenhouse conditions for approximately 4 months from transplanting of rooted cuttings. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae Lindl.         -   Species.—Solenostemon scutellarioides cultivar ‘Kakegawa             CE9’.         -   Common name.—Coleus. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male.—Proprietary Coleus breeding line.         -   Female.—Proprietary Coleus breeding line. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Decumbent.         -   Habit.—Freely branching with about 9 lateral branches.         -   Height.—14 cm as measured from soil level to top of plant.         -   Spread.—25 cm. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—5-6 weeks. -   Environmental conditions for plant growth: The terminal 1.0-1.5     inches of actively growing stems were excised and the base of each     cutting dipped for one to two seconds in a 1:9 solution of DIP 'N     GROW root inducing solution immediately prior to placing the cutting     into a cell tray. The cell tray contained a moistened peat     moss-based growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from     overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were     formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and grown individually in     20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in     Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing medium.     Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20%     potassium was applied once a day or every other day by overhead     irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow-release     fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorous and 18%     potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C. ‘Kakegawa     CE9’ will tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from 2° C. to 35°     C. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Branch color.—RHS 144B (yellow-green).         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (white).         -   Stem description.—Ancipital (round) in cross-section.         -   Branch diameter.—4 cm.         -   Branch length.—9.5-12.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—1.0-5.0 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaf apex.—Mucronate.         -   Leaf base.—Trucate.         -   Leaf margin.—Crenate (scalloped).         -   Leaf texture, both surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (white).         -   Venation.—Pinnate, netted.         -   Leaf length.—2.5 cm.         -   Leaf width.—2.8-3.4 cm.         -   Leaf color (multicoloured; colors arranged in concentric             bands starting at leaf base and moving outwardly toward leaf             edge).—Developing foliage: Upper surface: base is RHS 3B             (yellow); inner band is RHS 59A (red-purple); outer band is             RHS 33B (orange-red); edge is RHS 143A (green). Lower             surface: base is RHS 3C (yellow); middle band is RHS 59A             (red-purple); edge is RHS 141D (green). Fully expanded             foliage: Upper surface: base is RHS 5D (yellow); inner band             is RHS 63B (red-purple); outer band is RHS 77A (purple);             edge is RHS 141C (green). Lower surface: base is RHS 6D             (yellow); middle band is RHS 61C (red-purple); edge is RHS             139C (green).         -   Petiole length.—1.0-1.5 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—0.1-0.2 cm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 6D (yellow) with RHS 59D (red-purple)             center streak.

Disease and Insect Resistance

‘Kakegawa CE9’ has no unique resistance or susceptibility to common Coleus pathogens or pests.

Comparison with Known Cultivars

Coleus ‘Kakegawa CE9’ is a distinct variety of Coleus due to its unique leaf color pattern and creeping growth habit. ‘Kakegawa CE9’ is distinguished from Breeding Line CL9 mainly by its leaf color as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Kakegawa CE9’ Breeding Line 9CL Leaf color, Multicolored; red-purple center Bi-color; burgundy upper surface portion with yellow highlight and center with green edge; colors brighter than green edge breeding line 9CL; greater contrast between center and edge than breeding line 9CL

‘Kakegawa CE9’ is most similar to the Coleus variety ‘Trailing Salamander’ (Unpatented); however, there are differences in leaf color and growth habit as described in Table 2 below.

‘Kakegawa CE9’ is distinguished from its parental cultivars and ‘Kakegawa CE10’, co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 11/067,978 primarily in foliage coloration.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Kakegawa CE9’ ‘Trailing Salamander’ Leaf color Multicolored; Upper central: Bi-color; Upper pattern dark purple, blotchy. Upper central: black, solid. edge: green Upper edge: green Growth habit Creeping Mounding 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant as shown and described herein. 